Apparatus for marking a coil of strip

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for marking a hot coil of strip including a ram movable toward and away from the coil. The ram pivotally supports a pair of spaced yokes having rollers at the ends of the arms of the yokes for engaging the coil at points spaced about the periphery thereof. A marking device is carried by the arms so that it is positioned as desired with respect to the coil.

mite States Patent U an "n H mm mmm m whu m e 0 uiflcd r. .1 .1aah OLKHHCPB 0424588 3566666 9999999 1111111 072 0 1 111 4724730 726 635 ,7,9 9497854 7815106 233333 n 0 a e Wm m w ms S0 Z8 00 mP, %wm.m Wi ma r 6mmw m m. S a. .t fn n m l. zp C AH7AJUa f. d% m N m D L ng 8 p 81 V 1 n.13 1 AFPA N UN 7 247 Primary ExaminerRobert E. Pulfrey AssistantExaminer-Eugene H. Eickholt Att0rneyMartin .1. Carroll [51] Int. [50]Field of ABSTRACT: Apparatus for marking a hot coil of strip includ-114, A; 1 1 /205: ing a ram movable toward and away from the coil. Theram l 1/4 316 pivotally supports a pair of spaced yokes having rollersat the ends of the arms of the yokes for engaging the coil at pointsspaced about the periphery thereof. A marking device is carried by thearms so that it is positioned as desired with respect m Sm m NH mm m A W0.." CS m u a nflw m .m m

R a 7 1 U m 4 m l B m m PATENTEU JAN 26 1971 INVENTOI? ALFRED TEPL/TZ Aflorn ay APFAKRATEJS FOR MARKING A COlL F STRIP This invention relatesto coil-marking apparatus and more particularly to such apparatus formarking hot steel coils leaving a hot strip mill.

The most common way of doing this is by manually writing" on the coilwith hot chalk," a waxy crayon that melts at high temperatures andleaves a permanent mark. This method is unsatisfactory because of theadverse environment for the person who does the marking, i.e.'the hightemperatures and attendant health hazards which induce worker fatigue,carelessness and erroneous markings. Labor costs are also high with thismethod.

It is therefore an object of my invention to provide marking apparatuswhich permits reliable marking from a remotely originated SignaL. thuseliminating the environmental influences and allowing a reduction 'oflabor costs.

Another object is to provide such apparatus which applies the markinguniformly and accurately.

These and other objects will be more apparent after referring to thefollowing specification and attached drawings, in which:

The single FIG. is an isometric view of the apparatus of my invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, reference numeral 2indicates a conveyor on which is supported a hot coil of strip C withits axis vertical. Spaced from the conveyor 2 is a base or pedestal 4having a horizontal opening 6 therethrough which acts as a guide forslidably receiving a ram 8. The ram 8 is reciprocated by means of afluid motor 10 supported by base 4 with its piston rod 12 connected tothe ram 8. A control valve 34 of conventional type controls operation ofthe motor 10. This may be accomplished manually or by movement of coil Ccontacting a switch (not shown) when it reaches a position in front ofthe ram 8. A pivot pin 18 is secured to the outer end of ram 8 with itsaxis parallel to the axis of coil C. Aligned top and bottom bifurcatedyokes 20 and 22 are mounted on pin 18 for rotation about the axisthereof. Vertical shafts 2d extend between corresponding arms of theyokes 20 and 22 at the outer ends of the anus and support rotatablerollers 26. Marking heads 28 are mounted on the arms of the yokes 20 and22 in any suitable manner. They may be stationary or may be adjustablymounted, as shown, by means of slots 30 in the arms of the yokes andheld in place by means of set screws 32 passing through the slots. Oneor more marking heads 23 may be provided as required. The particulartype of marking head used forms no part of the present invention, but itis preferred to use an ink applicator such as shown in the copendingapplication of Francis et al., Ser. No. 705,734 filed Feb. 15, 1968.

In operation, when a coil C arrives at the marking station on conveyor2, the ram 8 will be in retracted position. At this time the valve 14will be operated by the workman to cause fluid to flow to the left sideof motor 10, thus moving the ram 8 forwardly. When the coil C is notabsolutely centered one of the rollers 26 will first contact the coil Cand continued movement of the ram will cause the yokes 20 and 22 topivot about the axis of pivot pin 18 and thus bring the second roller incontact with the coil C. This positions the marking heads 28 in thepreset position for optimum marking, which for most marking operationsis such that the spray axis of the marking device is normal to thesurface to be marked. This angle may be varied if desired. At this timethe marking heads are activated to mark the coil. Following this, thevalve 14 is actuated to supply fluid to the forwardend of motor 10, thusretracting ram 8 to its original position.

While one embodiment of my invention has been shown and described, itwill be apparent that other adaptations and modifications may be madewithout departing from the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for marking a coil of strip comprising a support for saidcoil, a ram movable in a generally radial plane including the axis ofsaid coil toward and away from the axis of said supported coil, a ivotedmember mounted on the end of said ram ad acent sat coil with its pivotaxis parallel to the axis of said supported coil, a marking devicemounted on said pivoted member, and spaced means mounted on said memberat opposite sides of said generally radial plane, said pivoted memberbeing freely pivotal about its axis to permit engagement of the coil atpoints spaced about the periphery thereof to move said marking deviceinto position to mark said coil.

2. Apparatus for marking a coil of strip according to claim 1 in whichthe coil support is a conveyor which supports said coil with its axisvertical.

3. Apparatus for marking a coil of strip according to claim 2 in whichsaid pivoted member includes aligned top and bottom bifurcated yokeswith the apex of each yoke at the axis of said pivoted member and thetwo an'ns thereof extending toward said conveyor; and said spaced meansincludes vertical rollers extending between the aligned arms of theyokes at the outer end thereof, said rollers adapted to engage saidcoil; and said marking device is mounted on the arms of said yokes.

4. Apparatus for marking a coil of strip according to claim 3 includinga base having a horizontal guide for slidably receiving said ram, and afluid motor supported on said base for moving said ram toward and awayfrom said coil on said support.

1. Apparatus for marking a coil of strip comprising a support for said coil, a ram movable in a generally radial plane including the axis of said coil toward and away from the axis of said supported coil, a pivoted member mounted on the end of said ram adjacent said coil with its pivot axis parallel to the axis of said supported coil, a marking device mounted on said pivoted member, and spaced means mounted on said member at opposite sides of said generally radial plane, said pivoted member being freely pivotal about its axis to permit engagement of the coil at points spaced about the periphery thereof to move said marking device into position to mark said coil.
 2. Apparatus for marking a coil of strip according to claim 1 in which the coil support is a conveyor which supports said coil with its axis vertical.
 3. Apparatus for marking a coil of strip according to claim 2 in which said pivoted member includes aligned top and bottom bifurcated yokes with the apex of each yoke at the axis of said pivoted member and the two arms thereof extending toward said conveyor; and said spaced means includes vertical rollers extending between the aligned arms of the yokes at the outer end thereof, said rollers adapted to engage said coil; and said marking device is mounted on the arms of said yokes.
 4. Apparatus for marking a coil of strip according to claim 3 including a base having a horizontal guide for slidably receiving said ram, and a fluid motor supported on said base for moving said ram toward and away from said coil on said support. 